The Dutch government has invoked the Goods Availability Act (Wet Beschikbaarheid Goederen) to assert control over decisions made by Chinese-owned semiconductor firm Nexperia, citing risks to national and European technological security.
The announcement, made public on October 12, revealed that the Act was invoked on September 30, 2025, by the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs following what officials described as “serious governance shortcomings” within the company. The intervention is designed to ensure that crucial semiconductor technologies and production capabilities remain safeguarded on Dutch and European soil.
Under the order, the government now has the authority to block or reverse company decisions if they are deemed potentially harmful to national or European interests. However, Nexperia’s regular production activities will continue as usual.
Safeguarding Dutch and European Technological Capabilities
According to the ministry, the decision was driven by acute signals of governance deficiencies within Nexperia that could jeopardize the continuity of critical technological knowledge and semiconductor capabilities. The company plays a vital role in producing chips used across the European automotive and consumer electronics sectors — industries central to the continent’s economic resilience.
Officials stated that the move was “highly exceptional” and taken only because of the scale and urgency of the identified issues. “This is a measure the government uses only when absolutely necessary,” the ministry emphasized, clarifying that the action targets Nexperia alone, not the wider semiconductor sector or Chinese enterprises in general.
The Goods Availability Act allows the Dutch government to intervene when there is a risk that vital products or technologies could become unavailable during emergencies or crises. The goal, authorities said, is to prevent any loss of strategic capacity that might undermine Dutch or European economic security.
Chinese Parent Firm Calls Move “Excessive Interference”
Nexperia’s Chinese parent company, Wingtech Technology, sharply criticized the Netherlands’ intervention, calling it “an act of excessive interference driven by geopolitical bias, not by fact-based risk assessment.”
In a filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, Wingtech announced plans to appeal the decision in court and said it was seeking assistance from the Chinese government. Following the news, Wingtech’s shares plunged 10% at the open on Tuesday, hitting the daily trading limit for the second consecutive session.
The controversy comes amid heightened scrutiny of Chinese investments in Western technology sectors, especially those related to semiconductors.
Espionage Concerns and Wider Context
The Dutch decision follows warnings from the MIVD, the country’s military intelligence agency, which earlier this year cautioned that Chinese espionage activities targeting semiconductor research were intensifying. The Netherlands, home to chip-making giant ASML, has been a focal point of concern regarding the theft of semiconductor manufacturing secrets.
Globally, tensions in the semiconductor sector have been escalating. In 2023, Wingtech was among 140 entities added to the U.S. Commerce Department’s sanctions list for actions deemed “contrary to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States.”
This is not the first time Nexperia has faced government intervention. In 2022, the UK ordered Nexperia to sell its stake in Newport Wafer Fab, the country’s largest microprocessor factory, citing national security risks tied to Chinese ownership. The company later sold the facility to Vishay Intertechnology, a U.S.-based firm, for $177 million, more than double its purchase price amid the global chip shortage.
Nexperia Cybersecurity Breach
Adding to the controversy, Nexperia suffered a cyberattack in March 2024, during which an “unauthorized third party accessed certain IT servers.” The incident reportedly exposed sensitive documents and intellectual property, heightening concerns about data security and ransomware threats in the semiconductor industry.
Moreover, on accessing the company’s website, it displayed a maintenance message stating: “We are currently performing maintenance… We strive to provide you with an optimal browsing experience by updating and improving our website regularly.”
A Balancing Act Between Security and Commerce
The Dutch government’s intervention highlights a growing European unease over foreign control of critical technologies, particularly in the semiconductor supply chain. While the decision to invoke the Goods Availability Act is extraordinary, officials maintain it is a targeted and precautionary measure to protect vital national interests.
Meanwhile, the case has already rippled through global markets. Wingtech’s losses contributed to a cautious mood across Asian exchanges, even as South Korea’s Kospi index hit a record high and Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped amid broader tech-sector volatility.
